ICE consists of three directorates to accomplish the agency’s mission, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) and Management and Administration (M&A).

ICE executes its mission through the enforcement of more than 400 federal statutes, and focuses on smart immigration enforcement, preventing terrorism and combating the illegal movement of people and trade. (read more)

Learn more about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, including facts about investigations, immigration enforcement and removal operations, and management and administration information. (read more)

To ensure openness and transparency and to better serve those seeking more information about ICE and its operations, the agency centralized processing of all ICE-related Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests in a single office.

Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA)

The largest legal program in DHS, ICE's Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA) is the exclusive legal representative for the U.S. government in exclusion, deportation and removal proceedings before the U.S. Department of Justice’s Executive Office for Immigration Review. OPLA attorneys also litigate immigration-related hearings on behalf of the United States involving criminal aliens, terrorists and human rights abusers.

OPLA is the largest legal program in the Department of Homeland Security, providing legal advice, training and services in cases related to the ICE mission.

OPLA also is the exclusive legal representative for the U.S. government in exclusion, deportation and removal proceedings before the Department of Justice’s Executive Office for Immigration Review. Moreover, OPLA attorneys litigate immigration-related hearings that involve criminal aliens, terrorists and human rights abusers.

OPLA is headquartered in Washington, D.C. and has 26 offices throughout the country, each headed by a chief counsel.

Mission

OPLA protects the homeland by diligently litigating cases while adhering to the highest standards of professional conduct, and providing timely and accurate legal advice in support of the agency's mission.

Chief of Staff

Headquarters Administrative Operations

Executive Communications Unit

Executive Services Team

Enforcement and Litigation

District Court Litigation Division

Enforcement and Removal Operations Law Division

Detention and Removal Law Section

Enforcement Law Section

Homeland Security Investigations Law Division

Criminal Law Section

Human Rights Law Section

National Security Law Section

Immigration Law Practice Division

Field Legal Operations

26 Offices of the Chief Counsel overseen by the Director and Deputy Directors of Field Legal Operations